What are the soft skills that can be developed through mentorship in Philanthropy?

I love the concept of reverse-mentoring, especially in Philanthropy. If your alma mater, fraternity/sorority or community organization has programs for those individuals just entering the workforce, it would be a great addition to form a reverse-mentor program where you pair an experienced career person with a less experienced one with the benefit of learning from one another. I have learned so much from my "reverse" mentors about the challenges they face entering the workforce that I didn't have to face or the trends they are seeing with fresh eyes that I may no longer see. Each member of the pair feels like they are giving and receiving which further deepens their connection to community, philanthropy and your #nonprofit organization.

The ability to not just listen, but to truly HEAR, moves mountains and establishes connectivity. Don’t be afraid to mirror back and to offer a brief personal example IF it deepens and opens the conversation to possibilities. Mentoring by asking the right questions assists self-discovery as well as establishes authenticity and unique perspectives.

I think that mentorship in philanthropy provides a vast array of opportunities to really learn about others and their paths. It's an opportunity to share goals and experiences and help other achieve.

I agree with so many here and want to add to really utilize empathy in all aspects of what we do. Whether it's with patients, team members or overall networking situations. Being able to take a step back and really listen, put yourself in the other person's shoes to understand and therefore have a greater understanding of concern/conversation. As leaders and advocates we must listen with intention to understand, not just to have a rebuttal. Active listening and being able to restate what you've heard creates a forum of understanding and really opens the floor for deeper, more thoughtful interactions.

I believe that the most critical skill that one can develop is the honing of our emotional intelligence if coupled with active listening skills

When we see and value everyone, we allow them to show up as their most authentic selves. When people feel seen, valued, and heard, they will bring their best and most creative selves to anything they do. This is the place from which they will bring the most innovative and inspirational ideas to the table. Sawubona!!

If you become a mentor, you get to practice the leadership skills you learned as a mentee. Relationships building and communication skills are crucial to leadership development. As a mentor, you develop rapport and build trust with your mentees. You must also create a shared bond around common goals to move forward.

When we see and value everyone, we allow them to show up as their most authentic selves. When you people feel seen, valued, and heard, they will bring their best and most creative selves to anything they do. This is the place from which they will bring the most innovative and inspirational ideas to the table. Sawubona!!

I believe, Philanthropy at its core, is about leading change. Mentorship has taught me that true leadership in this space means inspiring others through our actions and decisions. It’s about demonstrating the courage to tackle tough challenges, the vision to see opportunities for impact, and the humility to learn from those we serve.

I believe that true leadership is about why we are leaders in the first place. Is it to control others? Or change and help our community grow into something healthier and safer for all. Is it to have a title and hang all our degrees on the wall to be noticed? Or to make sure our staff, those we impact daily, who then impact our clients, are well paid, taken care of and in a comfortable space. Leadership is about putting others before yourself.

It is prevalent that navigating the complex landscape of philanthropy requires out-of- the box thinking. My mentors have shown me that creativity in philanthropy isn’t just about coming up with innovative solutions to societal challenges, it’s also about reimagining how we engage with communities, build partnerships and tell stories that highlight our shared humanity.

In my experience, the most valuable soft skill that participating on non profit initiatives can bring you, is how to incorporate and grow the Purpose into for profit organizations. Purpose is nowadays the most important element to get team members to commit: doing something meaningful, beyond money, is one of the top motivational components of the Maslow piramid. Non for profit organizations might sometimes not be the most efficiently managed, the ones with the strongest strategy or with the clearest KPIs, but they usually have a level of Purpose that infiltrates the whole culture, driving results and fulfillment. Deep dive into that component of the non for profit organization and learn as much as possible about how to develop it.

At my non-profit, which taught kids how to leverage their natural altruism to do good, we mastered the art of convincing adults that cookies are the ultimate currency for fundraising ! But truly, empathy, communication, leadership, and teamwork were beautiful attributes we watched evolve with a little encouragement and structure.

Curiosity drives creativity. Leaning into curiosity over judgement not only helps a person to listen to understand rather than respond, it creates an openness to truly learning. One concrete way to do this is use a coaching methodology called powerful questions - the concept of powerful questions can be applied to any scenario and really open things up to generative and creative thinking.

I believe, in my experience, that one of the great skills that mentoring in philanthropy awakens, is to be able to connect with others through personal stories, where projects with a purpose of value aimed at collective impact are born. A hug

Emotional intelligence (EI) is derived from emotional quotient (EQ), which has been the measurement of how well you understand or seek to understand how other people feel about themselves, you and others. Being successful in philanthropy can range from achieving near-term financial or supportive outcomes while instilling long-term advocacy for beneficiaries and donor awareness. Applying EI skills is a necessity in order to design the right foundation for long-term donor and operational growth for your cause. This creates a multiplier effect, which allows whatever mission or message you are communicating to have a meaningful and lasting legacy.

In my own journey, I have seen how having a mentor has not only helped me develop my soft skills but also given me the confidence to take on new challenges and step out of my comfort zone.

Learning how to listen for the donor's underlying motivations and helping to guide them on their north requires strong emotional intelligence. Advisors need to out aside their personal priorities to truly provide quality and relevant guidance.

Emotions can be highly charged when it comes to funding and causes that people care so passionately about. Having an impartial mentor to help you navigate these tricky waters, can be hugely valuable.

I’m my experience, Philanthropy is deeply rooted in empathy and understanding. Through mentorship, I’ve enhanced my emotional intelligence by learning to listen actively, perceive the unspoken need of communities, and respond with compassion and sensitivity. This skill is crucial in building trust and fostering meaningful relationships in the philanthropic ecosystem.

Ayant eu le privilège de piloter une des plus importante campagne annuelle de levée de fonds pour Centraide au Québec, j'ai beaucoup appris sur la sensibilité aux enjeux éthiques et aux pièges marketing de ce type d'activités grace aux discussions avec les mentors expérimentés de Centraide. En philanthropie, l'adage selon lequel la fin ne justifie pas les moyens mérite toute notre attention! Les conseils avisés de mentors ont contribué à développer ma capacité à anticiper les réactions potentielles d'une panoplie de parties prenantes. Une expérience utile par la suite dans la gestion de tout mandat d'envergure.

I strive to have someone I am mentoring and that is mentoring me. Sometimes for different topics in my life. Mentoring creates community and challenges our core values to be exposed daily. It is a priceless experience that I recommend everyone receive.

In my experience, being able to confide in a trusted other with more experience than me is invaluable. I love being able to bounce my thoughts off of another person. It always sharpens my thinking and makes it easier to come to a solution.

The use of sales techniques to the Business community are required in Non-Profit work, too. To be bale to hone these skills not only teaches a worthy discipline, it may also lead to success for your non-profit cause.

"Community building" is an important part of all fundraising but in particular for planned gifts. Gathering in person and virtually are great ways to do this. Writing and talking to members of our audiences can make use of the personal voice and the communal voice, which helps to create an atmosphere of shared identity and belonging. This is also a soft skill that can be learned over time.

Mentors serve as ethical role models, guiding mentees in navigating ethical dilemmas, making principled decisions, & upholding ethical standards in all aspects of their work. I have had the privilege of learning and expanding skill sets; sharing knowledge, expertise, & wisdom from everyone, I meet. By embracing the lessons imparted to everyone, you can cultivate a diverse skill set & make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Through collaborative learning, reflection, & guidance from experienced mentors, individuals can enhance their communication, collaboration, strategic thinking, empathy, ethical leadership, adaptability, & resilience, ultimately empowering them to drive positive change & create lasting impact in the world.